Arkansas State Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arkansas State Library |
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| 900 West Capitol Avenue in Little Rock | |
| Type | Special library |
| Scope | State and local government publications, Federal depository library, Patent and Trademark depository |
| Established | 1935, as the Arkansas Library Commission; 1979, as the Arkansas State Library |
| Location | Little Rock, Arkansas, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°44′45.5586″N 92°16′51.1680″W / 34.745988500°N 92.280880000°W |
| Collection | |
| Size | 2,600,000 |
| Other information | |
| Director | Jennifer Chilcoat |
The Arkansas State Library (ASL) is a special kind of library located in Little Rock, Arkansas. It acts as a central resource for the state government, helping people who work for Arkansas, like legislators (lawmakers). But it also plays a big role in supporting all the public libraries across Arkansas. The ASL provides many useful resources and services for everyone in the state, including students and teachers! It is part of the Arkansas Department of Education.
Contents
Discovering the History of Arkansas's State Library
The story of the Arkansas State Library began in 1935. That year, the Arkansas General Assembly (which is like the state's parliament) decided to create the Arkansas Library Commission. This commission started getting money to operate in 1937.
Its main office was in Little Rock, Arkansas. The commission helped libraries all over the state. They even mailed books to people through the Post Office Department until 1971. They also gave advice on how libraries could build their collections. Plus, they offered grants to help libraries start new projects. In 1979, the state government decided to replace the commission. They created the new Arkansas State Library, which is what we have today.
How the Arkansas State Library Helps Everyone
The Arkansas State Library offers many different programs and services for people of all ages. Here are some of the cool things they provide:
Resources for the General Public
- Arkansas Center for the Book: This program celebrates books and reading in Arkansas.
- Document Collection: You can find lots of important state and federal documents here.
- Information about the Arkansas General Assembly: Learn about your state's lawmakers, their meetings, and new laws.
- Library Card Registration: Find out how to get a library card.
- Online Catalog: Search for books and other materials available at the library.
- Patents and Trademarks: The ASL is the only place in Arkansas that helps people with patents and trademarks. These are like official protections for new inventions or brand names.
- Summer Reading Program: Join fun reading challenges during the summer!
- Traveler Online Database Program: Access many online databases for research and learning.
Support for Librarians and Library Leaders
The ASL also provides lots of help for librarians and people who serve on library boards (called trustees). This includes:
- Federal & State Documents: Access to important government papers.
- Grant Information: Help finding money to improve libraries.
- Interlibrary Loan (ILL): This allows libraries to borrow books from other libraries for their users.
Services for State Government Employees and Lawmakers
People who work for the state government and legislators (the people who make laws) also use the State Library. They can access:
- Online databases for research.
- Help with finding information (reference assistance).
- Federal and state documents.
- Interlibrary Loan services.
Tools for Teachers and Students
The Arkansas State Library has many great resources for teachers and students, too! These include:
- America's Story from America's Library: A fun way to learn about American history from the Library of Congress.
- Arkansas Center for the Book: Promotes reading and literacy for young people.
- Arkansas Department of Education: Links to educational resources.
- Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids: Learn about the U.S. government in an easy-to-understand way.
- Book Awards & Reading Lists: Discover new books and find recommended reading.
Library for the Blind and Print Disabled
The Arkansas Regional Library for the Blind and Print Disabled is a very special part of the Arkansas State Library. It's also connected to the Library of Congress National Library Service. This service helps Arkansas citizens who cannot read regular print materials. They can borrow popular books and magazines for free. These materials come in recorded audio formats or in Braille.
See also
- List of Arkansas state agencies
